Absorbent article

ABSTRACT

An absorbent article of pants shape including an elastic waist portion, an absorbent element ( 5 ), and a liquid-impermeable outer layer ( 3 ) which is intended to enclose the absorbent element on at least that side thereof which faces away from the wearer during use of the article. Elastic members are arranged along the edges of a second piece, along at least the crotch portion for the forming of leg elastics.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/342,760, filed in the United States on Dec. 28, 2001,the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE APPLICATION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an absorbent article of pants-likeshape, such as incontinence pants, pants diapers or sanitary towelpants, comprising an elastic waist portion, an absorbent element, whichhas a length and a width and is intended to at least cover the genitalsof the wearer during use of the article. The invention also relates to amethod of manufacturing such absorbent articles of pants-like shape.

2. Background Art

Absorbent disposable products for taking up urine, feces or menstrualblood have developed greatly since they came into more general useduring the 1960s and 1970s. As they are disposable products, it isnecessary that they can be manufactured and sold at a very low price. Atthe same time, it is important that the products function well andreliably. Good fit and comfort are also important characteristics. Thefirst disposable diapers were made of two-part products, consisting ofan outer pant made of plastic, intended to be re-used, and a rectangularabsorbent insert for disposable use. The absorbent material in theseinserts initially consisted of cellulose tissue. Later, betterabsorption materials made of what is known as fluff pulp made ofcellulose were developed. The fit and comfort of these early diaperswere poor. The products were unwieldy and uncomfortable for the wearer.Towards the end of the 1970s, the first complete disposable diapersarrived, that is to say diapers in which the absorption bodies wereintegrated with a liquid-impermeable outer layer. The absorptionmaterials have developed and improved, which has resulted in thepossibility of the absorption bodies being adapted better to the anatomyof the wearer. Hourglass-shaped absorption bodies with a narrower crotchportion between the two end portions are now predominant. The trend hasalso been towards increasingly thin products, which has been madepossible by the inclusion of what are known as superabsorbent materialsin the absorption body. There are many reasons why thinner and evensmaller absorption bodies are desirable. A thinner, smaller absorptionbody is more comfortable and more discreet, which is especiallyimportant for adult incontinent wearers. A reduction in volume is alsovery important financially because the product then requires lessstorage space and is easier to transport and takes up less shelf spacein shops. This is important for the financial management of the shops,and if a manufacturer can produce products requiring less space in theshops than the products of the competitors, this affords a notinconsiderable competitive advantage. Moreover, there is increasedpressure from authorities, in particular as far as disposable articlesare concerned, to use as little material as possible for the purpose ofreducing the burden on the environment.

The smaller the absorption bodies become, the more important it becomesthat the absorption bodies come to lie in the correct place directly infront of the genitals of the wearer and remain in place during use evenwhen the wearer is very active and moves a great deal. The demands ofconsumers for discretion, comfort and reliable functioning are alsoincreasingly exacting. Requirements for the absorption body to come tolie correctly when put on and then be retained in the correct place havetherefore increased the need for good fixing of the article on the bodyand the need for very good adaptability to the body when the wearermoves, at the same time as requirements have increased for the articlealways to come to lie in the correct place when the article is put onthe wearer. This has led to the development of what are known as pantsdiapers, which have elastic portions for improved fit and comfort andincreased flexibility during movements of the wearer compared withconventional absorbent articles.

An early patent publication relating to pants diapers of the disposabletype is GB 2 112 267-A. However, this publication from 1983 disclosesprimitive pants diapers which did not become a commercial product. Notuntil the 1990s did absorbent articles of pants-like shape andconstruction become a major commercial product. Pants-like articles nowexist in the form of diapers for infants and diapers for adults and tosome extent sanitary towel pants for absorption of menstrual fluid.Previously commercially available pants diapers have been designed inprinciple like conventional diapers with a front portion and a rearportion and also an intermediate crotch portion, the front and rearportions being interconnected by a side seam between each leg openingand the waist opening of the pants. The pants diapers have been producedby plane diaper-like pieces being produced in a continuous web, theindividual pants diapers being formed by diaper-like blanks being foldeddouble and provided with said side seams to form pants diapers. Theseside seams project laterally from the finished product and areundesirable because they project and interfere with the fit of garmentsworn over the top. On account of their shape, they are visible throughgarments worn on top of the pants diapers and fitting closely around thebody. They can also snag in clothing and even cause tears in nylontights. Such projecting side seams can also chafe and give rise topressure sores on wearers who spend a lot of time lying on their side.

WO 00/61049 has proposed improved pants diapers, in which the projectingsides seams have been eliminated. In this construction, the side seamshave been eliminated by virtue of elastic side portions extendingcontinuously in one piece from the front portion of the pants diapers totheir rear portion on both sides of the pants diapers. However, thepants diapers according to WO 00/61049 have a number of disadvantages.The pants diapers according to said publication have what is referred toas a chassis, which extends over the entire pants diapers and forms thefront portion, the crotch portion and the rear portion and is mostreminiscent of a conventional diaper, and also said elastic side panelswhich each overlap the chassis at both the front and the rear on thepants diapers. These overlapping portions do not serve any actualpurpose on the finished product and are in fact undesirable because alot of material is wasted, that is to say they are used for no otherpurpose than joining together. The overlapping, joined-together portionsare less of a nuisance and less uncomfortable for the wearer than theprojecting side seams on previously known pants diapers. Owing to theirunfavorable positioning, particularly at the rear, the overlappingportions can still give rise to a risk of chafing and back sores onwearers who spend a lot of time lying on their back. Anotherdisadvantage of the pants diapers according to WO 00/61049 is that saidchassis is relatively large and, as this portion is relatively rigid atleast in comparison with the elastic side portions of the pants diapers,the pants diapers as a whole are not as adaptable to the body of thewearer but there is a risk that the pants diapers will be displaced fromtheir optimum position in relation to the body when a wearer lies in bedand moves. In particular the rigid rear portion of the pants diapers canbe displaced and pull both the crotch portion and the front portion fromtheir optimum positions directly in front of the genitals of the wearerbecause the front and rear portion are essentially rigidly joinedtogether in one piece with the crotch portion.

This in combination with all the above-mentioned problems associatedwith absorbent articles of pants-like shape has resulted in a great needto find a pants-like article which functions well in all respects andwhich, in addition, it is possible to manufacture rationally.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an absorbentarticle of pants shape comprises an elastic waist portion, an absorbentelement, which has a length and a width and is adapted to at least coverthe genitals of a wearer when the article is worn, and aliquid-impermeable outer layer which is adapted to enclose the absorbentelement on at least a side thereof which faces away from the wearer whenthe article is worn, the elastic waist portion is made from an elasticfirst piece which is elongate in an extended state and is adapted topartly surround the trunk of the wearer when the article is worn and toform a rear portion and side portions of the absorbent article, a secondpiece forms a front portion and a crotch portion of the absorbentarticle, said second piece is elongate with two opposite end edges andtwo opposite longitudinal edges, the width of the second piece is, atleast in the crotch portion, smaller than a length of the first piece,the second piece is arranged with its longitudinal direction at rightangles in relation to a lateral direction of the first piece and isconnected by a first end portion of the second piece to one lateral edgeportion of the first piece centrally thereon, one end portion of thefirst piece is connected to a first longitudinal edge of the secondpiece, and another end portion of the first piece is connected in acorresponding manner to a second longitudinal edge of the second piece,the absorbent element is in its entirety arranged on the second piece,and elastic members are arranged along the longitudinal edges of thesecond piece along at least the crotch portion for forming leg elasticsthat are adapted to lie in sealing contact with legs of the wearer.

According to another embodiment, an absorbent article comprises anelastically stretchable first piece having first and second longitudinaledges and first and second ends, wherein the first and second ends areshorter than the first and second longitudinal edges; a second piecehaving first and second longitudinal edges and first and second ends,wherein the first and second ends are shorter than the first and secondlongitudinal edges; the second piece includes an absorbent element; thefirst end of the second piece is secured to a middle portion of thesecond longitudinal edge of the first piece so that the first pieceextends substantially perpendicular to the second piece; the first endof the first piece is secured to the first longitudinal edge of thesecond piece and the second end of the first piece is secured to thesecond longitudinal edge of the second piece; and elastic members arearranged along at least a portion of the first longitudinal edge andalong at least a portion of the second longitudinal edge of the secondpiece adjacent the absorbent element to contract said portions of thesecond piece.

By virtue of the fact that the entire rear portion of a preferredembodiment is elastic and, together with the elastic side portions,forms a single continuous elastic unity, the pants as a whole are moreadaptable to body movements. Local irregularities are taken up andsmoothed out by the continuous elastic piece and are not transferred tothe more rigid parts of the front portion and crotch portion locateddirectly in front of the genitals of the wearer. Compared withconventional diapers and previously known absorbent articles ofpants-like shape, the embodiments of the present invention affordsuperior fit and comfort. Most of the pants-like garment is completelysmooth. The seams required are arranged at the transition between thefront portion and the first piece and at the transition between thefirst and the second piece in the crotch portion. These seams come tolie in places which are not subjected to any significant pressure duringuse of the article, and there is less risk of chafing and pressure sorescaused by seams on the pants-like article. Due to the arranging of legelastics, the article obtains a good fit and sealing around the legs ofthe wearer.

The embodiment is designed in only two part pieces, where the absorbentelement is in its entirety located on the second part piece, whichaffords greater freedom of choice with regard to manufacturing methodcompared with previously known articles of pants-like shape.

According to one embodiment, the length of the second piece is greaterthan the width of the first piece, and a projecting portion of thesecond piece formed by the length difference is in its entirety locatedbelow that side edge of the first piece which is the lower one duringuse of the article, and there forms the crotch portion. According to amodified embodiment, the projecting portion has a smaller width than theremainder of the second piece.

According to another embodiment, the absorbent element extends in itslongitudinal direction over the entire crotch portion and a little wayup over the front portion in the direction of that side edge of thefirst piece which is the upper one during use of the article.

According to another embodiment, the absorbent element is arranged so asto extend with its lower end portion only a little way over the crotchportion and over less than half the extent of said projecting portion.According to another embodiment, the absorbent element tapers in thedirection of the crotch portion.

According to an embodiment in which the absorbent element extends overthe crotch portion, the absorbent element forms a concave shape with itsside edge portions in the crotch area.

According to one embodiment, the connected side edge portions and endportions of said first and second pieces are, before connection,arranged in an overlapping manner, with the inside of an overlappingportion being arranged against the outside of an overlapped portion.

According to another embodiment, the second piece includes aliquid-permeable inner layer and said liquid-impermeable outer layer,and the absorbent element is arranged between said inner and outerlayers, the inner and outer layers extending in the lateral directionand longitudinal direction outside the absorbent element and beinginterconnected there.

According to one embodiment, the liquid-impermeable layer only coversthe absorbent element. According to one embodiment, the rest of thesecond piece is breathable and vapor-permeable.

According to a modified embodiment, the liquid-impermeable outer layeris breathable and vapor-permeable, and the rest of the article, over itsentire area, is breathable and vapor-permeable.

According to a further embodiment, the first piece is rectangular, whichsimplifies the manufacturing.

According to one embodiment, the second piece has a concave portionbetween the first piece and up to said side edge portions of the secondpiece, wherein the concave portion forms cut-outs for the legs of thewearer. According to one embodiment, the elastic members extend at leastalong the edges of the concave portion.

According to another embodiment, the second piece is, at least along apart of its length, narrowing towards the first piece, wherein thenarrowing portion forms cut-outs for the legs of the wearer. Accordingto one embodiment, the elastic members are arranged along the edges ofsaid narrowing portion for the forming of leg elastics.

According to one embodiment, the second piece is essentially inelastic.The term inelastic here denotes that the front section, under normallyoccurring stresses, does not stretch.

According to one embodiment, the elastic members extend from an area inthe rear portion where the elastic first piece and the second pieceoverlap each other and further along the crotch portion along the edgesof the second piece in a direction towards the front portion, wherebythe elastic members are effectively connected with the elastic firstpiece. In such a design, the leg elastic is connected with the waistelastic in the first piece, which gives the pants-like article a goodfit.

According to a further embodiment, the absorbent element comprisessuperabsorbent material and is continuously narrowing in a directiontowards the rear portion of the article, and the concentration ofsuperabsorbent material increases in the same direction.

A method of manufacturing an absorbent article according to oneembodiment of the invention comprises providing an elasticallystretchable first piece having first and second longitudinal edges andfirst and second ends, wherein the first and second ends are shorterthan the first and second longitudinal edges; securing a first end of asecond piece of material to a middle portion of the second longitudinaledge of the first piece so that the first piece extends substantiallyperpendicular to the second piece, wherein the second piece has firstand second longitudinal edges that are substantially perpendicular tothe first end and the first end is shorter than the first and secondlongitudinal edges, and wherein the second piece includes an absorbentelement; securing the first end of the first piece to the firstlongitudinal edge of the second piece and securing the second end of thefirst piece to the second longitudinal edge of the second piece; andproviding elastic members along at least a portion of the firstlongitudinal edge and along at least a portion of the secondlongitudinal edge of the second piece adjacent the absorbent element tocontract said portions of the second piece.

According to one embodiment, the absorbent element is in its entiretyarranged on the second piece forming part of the article before saidpiece is connected to said first piece.

According to another embodiment, a method relates to manufacturing anabsorbent article of pants shape, the absorbent article comprising anelastic waist portion, an absorbent element, which has a length and awidth and which covers genitals of a wearer when the article is worn,and a liquid-impermeable outer layer which encloses the absorbentelement on at least a side thereof which faces away from the wearer ofthe article. The method comprises forming said elastic waist portionfrom an elastic first piece which is elongate in an extended state andpartly surrounds the trunk of the wearer and forms a rear portion andside portions of the pants article when the article is worn, forming afront portion of the article and a crotch portion from a second piece,said second piece is elongate with two opposite end edges and twoopposite longitudinal edges, a width of the second piece is, at least inthe crotch portion, smaller than a length of the first piece, the secondpiece is arranged with its longitudinal direction at right angles inrelation to the longitudinal direction of the first piece, connecting afirst end portion of the second piece to one longitudinal edge portionof the first piece, centrally thereon, connecting one end portion of thefirst piece to a first longitudinal edge portion of the second piece,and connecting another end portion of the first piece in a correspondingmanner to a second longitudinal edge portion of the second piece, andelastic members are arranged in the crotch portion on each side of theabsorbent element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in greater detail below with referenceto illustrative embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows schematically a phase of the construction of an absorbentarticle according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows schematically in plane form an assembled article accordingto the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows the article according to FIG. 2 in perspective.

FIG. 4 shows a section along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows schematically a phase of the construction of an absorbentarticle according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows in plane form an assembled article according to the secondembodiment.

FIG. 7 shows in plane form an assembled article according to a thirdembodiment.

FIG. 8 shows in plane view an assembled article according to a fourthembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows schematically the distribution of superabsorbent materialin one embodiment of an absorbent element belonging to the article.

FIG. 10 shows a section along the line X-X in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the article in the embodiment according toFIG. 1 comprises a first piece 1. This piece is elastically stretchableand is shown in FIG. 1 in a plane and even extended state, in which theelastic piece 1 is essentially rectangular. The elastic first piece 1can be made from conventional materials well-known to the person skilledin the art, such as woven elastic materials, elastic non-wovens, elasticlaminates or elastic films. Another alternative is a material withprestressed elastic threads arranged on a supporting material, forexample non-woven. Thus, the elastic piece is stretchable for a wearerwhen the article is put on, and it fits closely with suitable tightnessaround the wearer during use of the article. The tightness is of courseregulated by means of size and elastic stretchability.

The article includes a second piece 2 which, as can be seen from FIGS.1-3, consists of an outer layer 3, an inner layer 4 and an absorbentelement 5 arranged between these. In the embodiment in plane form shownin FIG. 1, this element is essentially triangular. The material selectedfor the absorption element can be chosen from among materials ormaterial combinations well-known to the person skilled in the art. Forexample, the absorbent element can consist of cellulose fluff pulp withsuperabsorbent materials in powder or fiber form added in. The absorbentelement can also consist of a foam material with or withoutsuperabsorbent material.

The outer layer 3 may suitably be liquid-impermeable and breathable. Thebreathable and liquid-impermeable layer 3 may have a so-calledMTVR-value in the order of magnitude of 200-10000 g/m²/24 h. The termMTVR stands for “Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate”, i.e., the amount ofvapor which can pass per unit area during a certain period of time. Saidbreathable portion suitably has an MTVR-value in the order of magnitudeof 500-5000 g/m²/24 h, and most preferably in the order of magnitude of1000-3000 g/m²/24 h.

Measurement of breathability has been performed with the method ASTM E96and the measurement equipment Lyssy has been used.

A problem with absorbent articles of pants-like shape is namely thatconventional articles of this kind tightly enclose the area around thegenitals of the wearer, whereby this area, when body fluids areexcreted, becomes locally saturated with moisture and vapor, which hasan adverse effect on the skin of the wearer. In some cases disturbingskin irritation can occur. Furthermore, also minor chafing of thearticle against the skin of the wearer, in combination with a moistenvironment and during lengthy usage of the article, can give rise tosores on older people with flesh that heals poorly.

It is not required that the elastic first piece is liquid-impermeable.The elastic first piece 1 should have good breathability

Breathable and vapor-permeable but liquid-impermeable materials for usein absorbent articles, such as diapers, incontinence products orsanitary towels, are previously known. Breathable materials can consistof perforated plastic films, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,737, orof micro-porous plastic films, as described in, for example,EP-A-0238200. Another example of breathable materials are so-callednon-woven materials which are air-permeable and vapor-permeable andwhich, if required, have been treated with means to improve theliquid-impermeability, as is described in EP-A-0196654. In absorbentarticles of pants-like shape, with a fit which tightly encloses aroundthe wearer, the need for air-permeability and vapor-permeability isbeneficial.

The liquid-impermeable and breathable layer 3 can, for example, consistof a perforated polyethylene film, where the size of the holes has beenchosen so that air and vapor may pass, but not liquid drops. If anabsorbent article with a more textile-like appearance is desired, aliquid-impermeable film in combination with an outer fiber layer issuitable.

The inner layer 4 can be made from a liquid-permeable non-woven.

The second piece 2 is elongate and is arranged with its longitudinaldirection at right angles in relation to the longitudinal direction ofthe first piece 1. The second piece 2 is connected by one end portion 6to one longitudinal edge portion 7 of the first piece 1, centrallythereon. The connection can be made by means of, for example, adhesive,thermal bonding or ultrasonic bonding. Elastic members 23, 24 arearranged along the edge portions of the second piece, which elasticmembers, in the shown embodiment, are made from elastic bands, extendingfrom the first piece 1, over the crotch portion and over the entireextent of the absorbent element 5. During use of the article, theelastic members are intended to serve as leg elastics and to lie insealing contact with the legs of the wearer along the crotch portion ofthe wearer, as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The elastic members 23, 24 maybe arranged in prestressed condition on the second piece 2.Alternatively, the elastic members may be made of a material which isarranged in an unstressed, untensioned condition, and which shrinks andbecomes elastic only when heated. Such elastic members are well known tothe person skilled in the art and are for this reason not furtherdescribed. Elastic members which become effective only on thermaltreatment are suitably subjected to required thermal treatment only whenthe absorbent articles are arranged in packages, whereby processing andpackaging are simplified compared to elastic members which are arrangedon the second piece 102 in prestressed condition.

In FIG. 1, the arrows A and B illustrate how the first and second piecesare folded to form the absorbent article of pants-like shape shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. The elastic piece 1 is folded in according to the arrowsA shown to form the rear portion 8 and side portions 9, 10 of thearticle, while the second piece is folded upwards according to thearrows B to form the front portion 11 and crotch portion 12 of thearticle.

As can be seen most clearly from FIG. 3, one end portion 13 of the firstpiece is arranged so as to be overlapped a little by a first side edgeportion 14 of the second piece, and the other end portion 15 of thefirst piece is in a corresponding manner arranged so as to be overlappeda little by a second side edge portion 16 of the second piece. Theseoverlapping portions are essentially permanently interconnected by meansof, for example, adhesive, thermal bonding or ultrasonic bonding.Alternatively the front portion and the crotch portion can be arrangeddetachably along said overlapping portions 13, 14 and 15, 16. Such adetachable connection can be made by means of, for example, hook means(not shown), as a result of which the pants-like article can be openedand subsequently reclosed with the same fit and tightness.

In FIG. 4, the thickness of the second piece has been exaggerated forthe sake of clarity. The figure shows an outer layer 3 consisting of alaminate of a plastic film 17 and a non-woven layer 18 arranged outside.The inner layer 4 can consist of a liquid-permeable non-woven of a typewell-known to the person skilled in the art.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, those parts corresponding tothe same parts in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1-4 have beenprovided with the same reference numbers except increased by 100. Theonly difference between the embodiment according to FIGS. 5 and 6 andthe embodiment described above is the shape and extent of the absorbentelement 105, and the extent of the elastic members 123, 124. In thissecond embodiment, the absorbent element 105 is hourglass-shaped inplane form, as can be seen most clearly from FIG. 5, the narrowerportion being intended to be arranged in the crotch of the wearer duringuse of the article. The upper end edge 119 of the absorbent element 105is located directly adjacent to the lower edge portion 107 of the firstelastic piece, which means that the absorbent element according to thissecond embodiment extends over the entire crotch area and a little wayup over the front portion 111, as can be seen from FIG. 6. The elasticmembers 123, 124 are arcuately arranged along the side edges of theabsorbent element 105 and extend, as is evident from FIG. 5, from theupper elastic first piece 101 and down over the crotch portion of thearticle. As is evident from FIG. 5, the end portions of the elasticmembers 123, 124 bridge that end portion 106 of the second piece whichoverlaps the first elastic piece 101. Thus, the elastic members areoperatively connected, in the rear portion 108 of the article, with thefirst elastic piece 101. The opposite end of each elastic member 123,124 does not extend all the way to the side edges of the second piece102, but are arranged so that the elastic members in the state of use ofthe article, which is shown in FIG. 6, do not reach all the way to theside portions 109, 110 of the first elastic piece. The relationship isthe same in the embodiments according to FIGS. 2 and 3.

Preferably, the elastic piece 101 and the elastic members have anelastic characteristic which allows an extension of up to the order ofmagnitude of twice the length with constant extension force. Anabsorbent article of a certain size can thereby be used on wearers ofdifferent sizes without the pressure from the elastic being varied,which in its turn leads to a very limited assortment of different sizesof the absorbent article being required in order to cover the need ofsizes for wearers of different sizes.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the second piece 102 has beenshaped rectangular. The second piece 102 may, of course, be providedwith leg cut-outs which follow the curved elastic members and the curvededge portions of the hourglass-shaped absorbent element 205.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment which is slightly modified in relationto the first embodiment. The difference is that the elastic members 223,224 have another extent and that a part piece 221 of the second piece ismade narrower than the remainder of the second piece, in which way apants-like article with a narrower crotch portion is obtained, as can beseen from FIG. 7. In this embodiment the elastic members 223, 224 extendto the edge sides of the second piece and into each joint between thepieces, as can be seen from FIG. 7.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the details corresponding to similardetails in the other embodiments have been provided with the samereference numbers, except increased by 300. The second piece 302 has aconcave portion 322 which extends from the first piece 301 towards theside edge portions 314, 316. These are, as in the above describedembodiments, intended to be connected with the end portions 313 and 315on the first piece 301.

The first piece 301 is formed of an elastic material and is intendedduring use of the article to achieve an elastic tightening around thewaist of the wearer, which tightening keeps the article in place andgives it a good fit. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the elasticmembers 323, 324 are arranged along both sides of the concave portion322 for the forming of leg elastic, which during use of the article isintended to be in sealing contact with the legs of the wearer. In theshown embodiment, the elastic members 323, 324 extend from the elasticfirst piece 301 to the side edge portions 314, 316. The completed,assembled, pants-like article will thereby be elastically tight-fittingaround both of the legs of the wearer. In this manner a good fit isobtained. If the elastic piece 301 and the elastic members 323, 324 areformed so that they are elastically stretchable a longer distance,without the tension in the elastic piece 301 and in the elastic members323, 324 being increased to any considerable extent, the article can, asdescribed above, without any annoying chafing, be used by wearers ofdifferent sizes. In such a design, the number of requisite sizes can bekept down, which leads to savings and rational manufacturing compared toif there is a need for a larger assortment of sizes.

FIG. 9 schematically shows the absorbent element 5, 105, 205, 305 usablein the embodiments 5, 105, 205, 305 of FIGS. 1-4 and 7-8. In order toavoid giving rise to annoying chafing in the crotch of the wearer, theabsorbent element has been designed as narrowing in that direction whichduring use of the article is directed rearwards. A complication withthis narrowing design is that the absorbent element is narrowest in thatportion which during use of the article is situated substantially infront of the genitals of the wearer, in which portion the demand forabsorption capacity is greatest. To avoid the risk of leakage in thenarrower portion of the absorbent element to the most practicabledegree, the superabsorbent material, according to a suitable embodimentwhere the superabsorbent material is part of the absorbent element inthe form of particles or fibers, has been arranged with an increasingconcentration in said narrowing direction. This has been illustrated inFIG. 9 with the number of shown dots in correspondence with a gradientof the number of superabsorbent particles per unit volume of theabsorbent element 5, 105, 205, 305 in said direction.

In FIG. 4 an embodiment is shown where the liquid-impermeable butbreathable outer layer 3 consists of a layer of the second piece.According to one embodiment, the liquid-impermeable outer layer isarranged only over the absorbent element, and forms an outer layer ofsaid element. In FIG. 10 a cross section along the line X-X in FIG. 8 isshown, in order to illustrate this. The absorbent element is hereenclosed between a liquid-permeable layer 326, for example, ofnon-woven, and of a liquid-impermeable and at the same time breathablelayer 327, for example, of a perforated plastic film. The two layers326, 327 extend beyond the absorbent element 305 and a distance aroundit and are there interconnected. The unit formed by the absorbentelement 305 and the two layers 326 and 327 is attached to the secondpiece 302 of the absorbent article, wherein the liquid-permeable layer326 has been connected to the second piece 302, as is shown in FIG. 10.

The absorption unit shown in FIG. 10, consisting of the absorbentelement 305 and the layers 326 and 327, may be replaced with anabsorbent foam material in one piece, which foam material is providedwith an integral liquid-impermeable and at the same time air-permeablelayer.

When the expression liquid-impermeable and breathable has been used inthe above text, it also implies that the material in question also isvapor-permeable, but that it does not allow passage of liquid drops.

The liquid-impermeable outer layer 3 can, within the scope of theinvention, be made of an air-impermeable material.

In the above illustrative embodiments, as is evident from FIG. 3, theside edge portions 14, 16 of the second piece have been arranged on theoutside of the end edge portions 13, 15 of the first piece. It is, ofcourse, possible to do the reverse, i.e., with the end edge portions 13,15 of the first piece farthest out. These two alternatives are to bepreferred, even though it is within the scope of the invention to obtainsaid connection by means of attaching the inside of each of the end edgeportions of the first piece to the inside of each side edge portion ofthe second piece, or by means of connecting corresponding edge portionsoutside to outside.

The article according to the invention has turned out to be especiallysuitable as incontinence shields for men. Other applications, such asmenstrual shields or incontinence shields for women, are alsoconceivable.

In the above described illustrative embodiments, the highest absorptioncapacity per unit area for the narrowest area has been achieved by meansof varying the content of superabsorbent material. Another method ofachieving higher absorption capacity in the narrowest area is to formthe absorbent element with a higher basis weight in this area. This can,for example, be carried out on an absorbent element formed from a fluffpulp of cellulose. Thus, the absorption capacity for an absorbentelement of a fluff pulp may also be controlled by varying the densityand/or the thickness in different portions.

The absorbent element can, of course within the scope of the invention,be formed from other materials, for example absorbent foam materials.

The invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiments describedabove, but a number of modifications are possible within the scope ofthe patent claims below.

1. An absorbent pants diaper, comprising: an elastic waist portion, anabsorbent element, which has a length and a width and is adapted to atleast cover the genitals of a wearer when the article is worn, and aliquid-impermeable outer layer which is adapted to enclose the absorbentelement on at least a side thereof which faces away from the wearer whenthe article is worn, the elastic waist portion is made from an elasticfirst piece which is elongate in an extended state with two longitudinaledges that extend in a longitudinal direction of the pants diaper andtwo lateral edges that extend in a lateral direction of the pants diaperand is adapted to partly surround the trunk of the wearer when thearticle is worn and to form a rear portion and side portions of theabsorbent article, a second piece forms a front portion and a crotchportion of the absorbent article, said second piece is elongate with twoopposite end edges and two opposite longitudinal edges, the width of thesecond piece is, at least in the crotch portion, smaller than a lengthof the first piece, the second piece is arranged with its longitudinaldirection at right angles in relation to a lateral direction of thefirst piece and is connected by a first end edge of the second piece toone lateral edge portion of the first piece centrally thereon, onelongitudinal edge portion of the first piece is nondetachably directlyconnected to a first longitudinal edge of the second piece, and anotherlongitudinal edge portion of the first piece is nondetachably directlyconnected in a corresponding manner to a second longitudinal edge of thesecond piece, the absorbent element is in its entirety arranged on thesecond piece, and elastic members are arranged along the longitudinaledges of the second piece along at least the crotch portion for formingleg elastics that are adapted to lie in sealing contact with legs of thewearer.
 2. The absorbent pants diaper according to claim 1, wherein thelength of the second piece is greater than a height of the first piece,and a projecting portion of the second piece formed by a lengthdifference between the length of the second piece and a width of thefirst piece is in its entirety located below a lateral edge of the firstpiece which is a lower one during use of the article, and the projectingportion forms the crotch portion.
 3. The absorbent article according toclaim 2, wherein the absorbent element extends in its longitudinaldirection over the entire crotch portion and a little way up over thefront portion in the direction of that lateral edge of the first piecewhich is an upper one during use of the article.
 4. The absorbentarticle according to claim 3, wherein the absorbent element forms aconcave shape with its side edge portions in the crotch area.
 5. Theabsorbent pants diaper according to claim 1, wherein said directlyconnected longitudinal edge portions of the first piece and thelongitudinal edge portions of said second piece are, before connection,arranged in an overlapping manner, with an inside of an overlappingportion being arranged against an outside of an overlapped portion. 6.The absorbent pants diaper according to claim 1, wherein the secondpiece includes a liquid-permeable inner layer and saidliquid-impermeable outer layer, and the absorbent element is arrangedbetween said inner and outer layers, the inner and outer layersextending in a lateral direction and longitudinal direction outside theabsorbent element and being interconnected there.
 7. The absorbent pantsdiaper according to claim 6, wherein the liquid-impermeable outer layeris breathable and vapor-permeable and that a rest of the article, overits entire area, is breathable and vapor-permeable.
 8. The absorbentpants diaper according to claim 6, wherein the liquid-impermeable outerlayer only covers the absorbent element and portions of the inner layerto which it is connected.
 9. The absorbent article according to claim 8,wherein a remainder of the entire second piece is breathable andvapor-permeable.
 10. The absorbent pants diaper according to claim 1,wherein the first piece is rectangular.
 11. The absorbent articleaccording to claim 1, wherein the second piece has a concave portionbetween the first piece and up to said longitudinal edge portions of thesecond piece, wherein the concave portion forms cut-outs for legs of thewearer.
 12. The absorbent article according to claim 11, wherein theelastic members extend at least along the edges of the concave portion.13. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the second pieceis, at least along a part of its length, narrowing towards the firstpiece, wherein the narrowing portion forms cut-outs for the legs of thewearer.
 14. The absorbent article according to claim 13, wherein theelastic members are arranged along the edges of said narrowing portionfor the forming of leg elastics.
 15. The absorbent pants diaperaccording to claim 1, wherein the second piece is essentially inelastic.16. The absorbent pants diaper according to claim 1, wherein the elasticmembers extend from an area in the rear portion where the elastic firstpiece and the second piece overlap each other and further along thecrotch portion along the edges of the second piece in a directiontowards the front portion, whereby the elastic members are effectivelyconnected with the elastic first piece.
 17. The absorbent pants diaperaccording to claim 1, wherein the elastic members are arranged inprestressed condition on the second piece.
 18. An absorbent article ofpants shape, comprising: an elastic waist portion, an absorbent element,which has a length and a width and is adapted to at least cover thegenitals of a wearer when the article is worn, and a liquid-impermeableouter layer which is adapted to enclose the absorbent element on atleast a side thereof which faces away from the wearer when the articleis worn, the elastic waist portion is made from an elastic first piecewhich is elongate in an extended state with two longitudinal edges thatextend in a longitudinal direction of the pants diaper and two lateraledges that extend in a lateral direction of the pants diaper and isadapted to partly surround the trunk of the wearer when the article isworn and to form a rear portion and side portions of the absorbentarticle, a second piece forms a front portion and a crotch portion ofthe absorbent article, said second piece is elongate with two oppositeend edges and two opposite longitudinal edges, the width of the secondpiece is, at least in the crotch portion, smaller than a length of thefirst piece, the second piece is arranged with its longitudinaldirection at right angles in relation to a lateral direction of thefirst piece and is connected by a first end edge of the second piece toone lateral edge portion of the first piece centrally thereon, onelongitudinal edge portion of the first piece is essentially permanentlydirectly connected to a first longitudinal edge of the second piece, andanother longitudinal edge portion of the first piece is essentiallypermanently directly connected in a corresponding manner to a secondlongitudinal edge of the second piece, the absorbent element is in itsentirety arranged on the second piece, and elastic members are arrangedalong the longitudinal edges of the second piece along at least thecrotch portion for forming leg elastics that are adapted to lie insealing contact with legs of the wearer, wherein the length of thesecond piece is greater than a height of the first piece, and aprojecting portion of the second piece formed by a length differencebetween the length of the second piece and a width of the first piece isin its entirety located below a lateral edge of the first piece which isa lower one during use of the article, and the projecting portion formsthe crotch portion, and wherein said projecting portion has a smallerwidth than a remainder of the second piece.
 19. An absorbent pantsdiaper, comprising: an elastic waist portion, an absorbent element,which has a length and a width and is adapted to at least cover thegenitals of a wearer when the article is worn, and a liquid-impermeableouter layer which is adapted to enclose the absorbent element on atleast a side thereof which faces away from the wearer when the articleis worn, the elastic waist portion is made from an elastic first piecewhich is elongate in an extended state with two longitudinal edges thatextend in a longitudinal direction of the pants diaper and two lateraledges that extend in a lateral direction of the pants diaper and isadapted to partly surround the trunk of the wearer when the article isworn and to form a rear portion and side portions of the absorbentarticle, a second piece forms a front portion and a crotch portion ofthe absorbent article, said second piece is elongate with two oppositeend edges and two opposite longitudinal edges, the width of the secondpiece is, at least in the crotch portion, smaller than a length of thefirst piece, the second piece is arranged with its longitudinaldirection at right angles in relation to a lateral direction of thefirst piece and is connected by a first end edge of the second piece toone lateral edge portion of the first piece centrally thereon, onelongitudinal edge portion of the first piece is nondetachably directlyconnected to a first longitudinal edge of the second piece, and anotherlongitudinal edge portion of the first piece is nondetachably directlyconnected in a corresponding manner to a second longitudinal edge of thesecond piece, the absorbent element is in its entirety arranged on thesecond piece, and elastic members are arranged along the longitudinaledges of the second piece along at least the crotch portion for formingleg elastics that are adapted to lie in sealing contact with legs of thewearer, wherein the length of the second piece is greater than a heightof the first piece, and a projecting portion of the second piece formedby a length difference between the length of the second piece and awidth of the first piece is in its entirety located below a lateral edgeof the first piece which is a lower one during use of the article, andthe projecting portion forms the crotch portion, wherein the absorbentelement is arranged so as to extend with a lower end portion only alittle way over the crotch portion and over less than half the extent ofsaid projecting portion.
 20. The absorbent pants diaper according toclaim 19, wherein the absorbent element tapers in the direction of thecrotch portion.
 21. An absorbent pants diaper, comprising: an elasticwaist portion, an absorbent element, which has a length and a width andis adapted to at least cover the genitals of a wearer when the articleis worn, and a liquid-impermeable outer layer which is adapted toenclose the absorbent element on at least a side thereof which facesaway from the wearer when the article is worn, the elastic waist portionis made from an elastic first piece which is elongate in an extendedstate with two longitudinal edges that extend in a longitudinaldirection of the pants diaper and two lateral edges that extend in alateral direction of the pants diaper and is adapted to partly surroundthe trunk of the wearer when the article is worn and to form a rearportion and side portions of the absorbent article, a second piece formsa front portion and a crotch portion of the absorbent article, saidsecond piece is elongate with two opposite end edges and two oppositelongitudinal edges, the width of the second piece is, at least in thecrotch portion, smaller than a length of the first piece, the secondpiece is arranged with its longitudinal direction at right angles inrelation to a lateral direction of the first piece and is connected by afirst end edge of the second piece to one lateral edge portion of thefirst piece centrally thereon, one longitudinal edge portion of thefirst piece is nondetachably directly connected to a first longitudinaledge of the second piece, and another longitudinal edge portion of thefirst piece is nondetachably directly connected in a correspondingmanner to a second longitudinal edge of the second piece, the absorbentelement is in its entirety arranged on the second piece, and elasticmembers are arranged along the longitudinal edges of the second piecealong at least the crotch portion for forming leg elastics that areadapted to lie in sealing contact with legs of the wearer, wherein theabsorbent element comprises superabsorbent material and is continuouslynarrowing in a direction towards the rear portion of the article andthat a concentration of the superabsorbent material increases in thesame direction.
 22. An absorbent pants diaper, comprising: an elasticwaist portion, an absorbent element, which has a length and a width andis adapted to at least cover the genitals of a wearer when the articleis worn, and a liquid-impermeable outer layer which is adapted toenclose the absorbent element on at least a side thereof which facesaway from the wearer when the article is worn, the elastic waist portionis made from an elastic first piece which is elongate in an extendedstate with two longitudinal edges that extend in a longitudinaldirection of the pants diaper and two lateral edges that extend in alateral direction of the pants diaper and is adapted to partly surroundthe trunk of the wearer when the article is worn and to form a rearportion and side portions of the absorbent article, a second piece formsa front portion and a crotch portion of the absorbent article, saidsecond piece is elongate with two opposite end edges and two oppositelongitudinal edges, the width of the second piece is, at least in thecrotch portion, smaller than a length of the first piece, the secondpiece is arranged with its longitudinal direction at right angles inrelation to a lateral direction of the first piece and is connected by afirst end edge of the second piece to one lateral edge portion of thefirst piece centrally thereon, one longitudinal edge portion of thefirst piece is nondetachably directly connected to a first longitudinaledge of the second piece, and another longitudinal edge portion of thefirst piece is nondetachably directly connected in a correspondingmanner to a second longitudinal edge of the second piece, the absorbentelement is in its entirety arranged on the second piece, and elasticmembers are arranged along the longitudinal edges of the second piecealong at least the crotch portion for forming leg elastics that areadapted to lie in sealing contact with legs of the wearer, wherein theelastic members are arranged in an unstressed condition on the secondpiece, and that the elastic members are made of a material which shrinksand becomes elastic when heated.
 23. An absorbent pants diaper,comprising: an elastically stretchable first piece having first andsecond lateral edges that extend in a lateral direction of the pantsdiaper and first and second longitudinal edges that extend in alongitudinal direction of the pants diaper, wherein the first and secondlongitudinal edges are shorter than the first and second lateral edges;a second piece having first and second longitudinal edges and first andsecond ends, wherein the first and second ends are shorter than thefirst and second longitudinal edges; the second piece includes anabsorbent element; the first end of the second piece is secured to amiddle portion of the second lateral edge of the first piece so that thefirst piece extends substantially perpendicular to the second piece; thefirst longitudinal edge of the first piece is nondetachably secureddirectly to the first longitudinal edge of the second piece and thesecond longitudinal edge of the first piece is nondetachably secureddirectly to the second longitudinal edge of the second piece; andelastic members are arranged along at least a portion of the firstlongitudinal edge and along at least a portion of the secondlongitudinal edge of the second piece adjacent the absorbent element tocontract said portions of the second piece.
 24. The sorbent article ofclaim 23, wherein the first piece is substantially rectangular.
 25. Theabsorbent pants diaper of claim 24, wherein the second piece issubstantially rectangular.
 26. The absorbent pants diaper of claim 23,wherein the second piece is substantially rectangular.
 27. The absorbentpants diaper of claim 23, wherein a portion of the absorbent element isbetween the first and second longitudinal edges of the first piece and aportion of the absorbent element is not between the first and secondlongitudinal edges of the first piece.
 28. The absorbent pants diaper ofclaim 23, wherein the absorbent element includes superabsorbentmaterials.
 29. The absorbent article of claim 23, wherein the absorbentelement is hourglass shaped.
 30. The absorbent article of claim 23,wherein one portion of the second piece is narrower than a remainder ofthe second piece.
 31. An absorbent article, comprising: an elasticallystretchable first piece having first and second lateral edges thatextend in a lateral direction of the pants diaper and first and secondlongitudinal edges that extend in a longitudinal direction of the pantsdiaper, wherein the first and second longitudinal edges are shorter thanthe first and second lateral edges; a second piece having first andsecond longitudinal edges and first and second ends, wherein the firstand second ends are shorter than the first and second longitudinaledges; the second piece includes an absorbent element; the first end ofthe second piece is secured to a middle portion of the second lateraledge of the first piece so that the first piece extends substantiallyperpendicular to the second piece; the first longitudinal edge of thefirst piece is essentially permanently directly secured to the firstlongitudinal edge of the second piece and the second longitudinal edgeof the first piece is secured directly to the second longitudinal edgeof the second piece; and elastic members are arranged along at least aportion of the first longitudinal edge and along at least a portion ofthe second longitudinal edge of the second piece adjacent the absorbentelement to contract said portions of the second piece, wherein oneportion of the second piece is narrower than a remainder of the secondpiece, wherein the one portion is concave in shape and the one portionincludes the first end.
 32. An absorbent pants diaper, comprising: anelastically stretchable first piece having first and second lateraledges that extend in a lateral direction of the pants diaper and firstand second longitudinal edges that extend in a longitudinal direction ofthe pants diaper, wherein the first and second longitudinal edges areshorter than the first and second lateral edges; a second piece havingfirst and second longitudinal edges and first and second ends, whereinthe first and second ends are shorter than the first and secondlongitudinal edges; the second piece includes an absorbent element; thefirst end of the second piece is secured to a middle portion of thesecond lateral edge of the first piece so that the first piece extendssubstantially perpendicular to the second piece; the first longitudinaledge of the first piece is nondetachably directly secured to the firstlongitudinal edge of the second piece and the second longitudinal edgeof the first piece is directly secured to the second longitudinal edgeof the second piece; and elastic members are arranged along at least aportion of the first longitudinal edge and along at least a portion ofthe second longitudinal edge of the second piece adjacent the absorbentelement to contract said portions of the second piece, wherein a firstend of the absorbent element is closer to the first end of the secondpiece than the second end of the absorbent element.
 33. An absorbentpants diaper, comprising: an elastic waist portion, an absorbentelement, which has a length and a width and is adapted to at least coverthe genitals of a wearer when the article is worn, and aliquid-impermeable outer layer which is adapted to enclose the absorbentelement on at least a side thereof which faces away from the wearer whenthe article is worn, the elastic waist portion is made from an elasticfirst piece which is elongate in an extended state with two longitudinaledges that extend in a longitudinal direction of the pants diaper andtwo lateral edges that extend in a lateral direction of the pants diaperand is adapted to partly surround the trunk of the wearer when thearticle is worn and to form a rear portion and side portions of theabsorbent article, a second piece forms a front portion and a crotchportion of the absorbent article, said second piece is elongate with twoopposite end edges and two opposite longitudinal edges, the width of thesecond piece is, at least in the crotch portion, smaller than a lengthof the first piece, the second piece is arranged with its longitudinaldirection at right angles in relation to a lateral direction of thefirst piece and is connected by a first end edge of the second piece toone lateral edge portion of the first piece centrally thereon, onelongitudinal edge portion of the first piece is nondetachably directlyconnected to a first longitudinal edge of the second piece, and anotherlongitudinal edge portion of the first piece is nondetachably directlyconnected in a corresponding manner to a second longitudinal edge of thesecond piece, such that the nondetachably connected elements areintended to stay connected during normal use of the article, includingputting on and taking off of the article, the absorbent element is inits entirety arranged on the second piece, and elastic members arearranged along the longitudinal edges of the second piece along at leastthe crotch portion for forming leg elastics that are adapted to lie insealing contact with legs of the wearer.
 34. An absorbent pants diaper,comprising: an elastically stretchable first piece having first andsecond lateral edges that extend in a lateral direction of the pantsdiaper and first and second longitudinal edges that extend in alongitudinal direction of the pants diaper, wherein the first and secondlongitudinal edges are shorter than the first and second lateral edges;a second piece having first and second longitudinal edges and first andsecond ends, wherein the first and second ends are shorter than thefirst and second longitudinal edges; the second piece includes anabsorbent element; the first end of the second piece is secured to amiddle portion of the second lateral edge of the first piece so that thefirst piece extends substantially perpendicular to the second piece; thefirst longitudinal edge of the first piece is nondetachably directlysecured to the first longitudinal edge of the second piece and thesecond longitudinal edge of the first piece is nondetachably directlysecured to the second longitudinal edge of the second piece, such thatthe nondetachably connected elements are intended to stay connectedduring normal use of the article, including putting on and taking off ofthe article; and elastic members are arranged along at least a portionof the first longitudinal edge and along at least a portion of thesecond longitudinal edge of the second piece adjacent the absorbentelement to contract said portions of the second piece.